Page 56 July 2014 ARCADIA SPORTS Youth sets lofty goal and accomplishes Alcatraz Swim By Nicholas Smith The moment had arrived. Over seven months of training had led Jason Teetsel to this. He stared down at the choppy water before him and felt a wave of nerves sweep over him. Behind him was Alcatraz, the famous prison in San Francisco. In front of him, a mile and a half away, was the safety of the shore. Jason’s journey to Alcatraz had begun on a baseball diamond almost a year earlier. While playing for his little league team, Jason heard his teammate, Devin Esser, talk about a swim he had recently done. Devin had been training for the last year to complete the one and a half mile swim from Alcatraz to the shore in Aquatic Cove. The story made an impact on Jason, who was impressed by his friend’s adventure. But there was a difference between the two boys. Devin was a competitive swimmer who had been competing for years. Jason had taken little more than a few swim lessons. Still, the idea of doing the swim stuck with Jason, and he began to talk about it frequently with his mom, Claudia. “I remember telling Jason that he could do this, too,” she said. “But I explained to him that this wasn’t going to be easy. It was going to take time and commitment.” Jason was not deterred by his lack of swimming experience or the idea of putting in long hours of practice, and he excitedly began training for the swim during September of last year. He trained with Devin, who would be doing this swim a second time, and with two other Arcadia neighbors, Sarah Wright and her daughter, Lauren. Lauren is a seventh-grader at Veritas. “The kids trained for months and months to do this swim,” said Claudia. “They would swim two to three times a week for distance in the pool.” The most difficult part of the training came during the winter months, when the kids were taken to Bartlett Lake. They practiced swimming in the lake for the sole purpose of getting used to the cold. By November, everyone wore wetsuits, as the water temperature dropped into the low 50s. Through it all, Jason worked and worked to improve his swimming skills. Week after week, he continued to practice for the big day. Although just 10 years old, he never seemed to lose sight of his goal. “ S o m e t i m e s practice got a little annoying,” he said. “But doing the race sounded really cool.” On Thursday, Apr. 10, Jason made the trip to San Francisco. Friends and family had spent the final few weeks wishing him well and giving him advice. One friend of the family told him to make sure he paused during the swim to take in the unique view he was sure to have. Friday morning dawned and the swimmers headed to Alcatraz. The water was very choppy, and some would say it was the toughest water conditions the swim had experienced in eight years. It was then that Jason finally began to feel nervous. After all the hours, weeks and months of training and thinking for the race, the four Arcadia natives were ready for their big moment. “Right before I jumped off I got really, really nervous,” Jason admitted. Although Jason was understandably feeling the nerves, they were probably nothing compared to what his mother was feeling. “I was absolutely nervous,” she said. “It was hard to think about my son being out there all on his own.” Claudia received reassurance moments before the race began, when Jason was paired with his “swim angel.” “There are these older swimmers who live in San Francisco who do this race all the time,” said Claudia. “They will be swim buddies for the kids during the race, just to keep an eye on them and make sure they’re doing okay.” One of the older men came up to Claudia and let her know that he would be swimming next to Jason during the race. “That helped me,” she said. “Just to know someone would be looking out for him.” The moment was finally at hand and the swimmers were given the go-ahead. Jason jumped into the water and began his journey. The water that he felt was a chilly 58 degrees, cold enough to send most people running for their towels. But having been toughened up by hours in Bartlett Lake’s sub-55-degree temperatures, Jason was able to swim through the frigid waters. The hours of swimming over the last seven months would come in handy, as Jason began to make good time on his way to Aquatic Cove. But the choppy water wasn’t easy to navigate. “I swallowed some water,” he remembered. “I felt a little sick.” Marissa Dominick’s dad coached her and her Jason Teetsel completed the mile and a half swim to Alcatraz. Continued on page 57 Bo lives in the Arcadia area, and services all his clients with personal extras like: • Bringing a car to YOU - for a test drive. • Explaining the functions and features of new technology in the convenience of your home • Free ‘pick up and delivery’ • Free loaner cars when needed BO KNOWS! Offi ce: 602-264-1188 Direct: 602-571-9278 Email: bbell@coultercadillac.com 1188 E Camelback Rd • Phoenix, AZ 85014 www.coulteroncamelback.com Bo Bell The BEST deals on new Cadillacs, Buicks, GMC Trucks/SUVs and Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles! Call Bo today to find out what great deals, service, convenience and neighborly friendliness is all about! Mention this ad for FREE window tint with purchase!

Page 57 July 2014 ARCADIA SPORTS er and her Alcatraz Continued from page 56 Halfway through the race, he suddenly remembered the advice of his friend and stopped racing. He treaded water and took a look around at the view that few people get to experience. Behind him was Alcatraz. To his side he could see both the Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge. “I’m glad he did that,” his mom said. “It’ll be a nice memory for him to have.” By the homestretch, Jason was feeling nauseated from all the water he had swallowed. But the months of training paid off, as he finished the race in one hour and five minutes. Claudia was there at the end to greet him. “I bawled my eyes out when I saw him at the end,” she said. “I was so proud of all his hard work.” Jason wrapped up his weekend after the Alcatraz swim. Devin, along with Sarah and Lauren, swam the Golden Gate swim the next day. Although it was a great accomplishment, Jason announced an early retirement from his adventurous swims. “I felt really, really good when I finished,” he said. “But I don’t think I’ll do it again. I think I’m done.” As a 10 year old who just swam one and a half miles on his own, few would argue that Jason has more than earned some well-deserved rest. By Tina Tombs Last month we discussed hitting on an uneven lie. A lesson on the art of a consistently good sidehill lie shot comes next. Ball Above Your Feet: 1. Choke up on the club because the ball is closer to you on this lie. 2. Aim to the right of the target and move the ball position back in your stance to make solid contact with the ball. 3. A shorter swing with the concentration on your balance is more effective on a sidehill lie. 4. To stay in balance during the swing, check that your weight stays in your toes throughout the swing so you don’t fall away from the hill while you’re in motion. Ball Below Your Feet: 1. Use the full length of the club because the ball is further away from you on this lie. 2. Aim to the left of the target and Hit a consistently good shot on sidehill lie move the ball position more to the middle of your stance to make solid contact with the ball. 3. A shorter swing with concentration on your balance is especially important on this sidehill lie. 4. Keep your weight on your heels and maintain your knee flex (this lowers your center) throughout your swing. This will help keep you in balance throughout your swing so you don’t fall down during your swing. A practice swing is recommended as a balance check with all uneven lies. The ball above your feet will tend to go left and travel at a lower trajectory. The ball below your feet will tend to go right and travel higher than normal. Remember these few tips and you will have success on the course! Tina Tombs is the Director of Instruction at the Arizona Biltmore Golf Club and an LPGA Tour Professional. You can contact her at Tina@tinatombsgolf.com. earn $50 read details and fine print at giantscottsdale.com under “pay it forward” this summer, don’t dread the heat... love it! the higher the temperature, the greater the discount! save storewide! see complete details about our summer promo (and other awesome deals) at giantscottsdale.com PMS 267 C 2902 N. 68th St. (68th st. and Thomas) 480-773-7706 widest selection of Giant bikes open 7 days a week family friendly & locally owned